Terrorists in the northern Gaza Strip fired a Qassam rocket that exploded in an open area in the heart of a populated zone in the Ashkelon Beach region. No injuries were reported in the latest attack.

"Miraculously there were no casualties," said a witness close to the landing site, not far from a parking lot.

Southern Israel has been regularly targeted by Gaza rockets for several days now; two Qassams were fired at Israel Monday, causing no injuries. The IDF responded to the attacks by launching an aerial bombardment targeting a weapons depot in Gaza; four Palestinians were hurt in the attack.

IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi discussed the recent escalation in the south Tuesday, during his appearance before the Knesset's Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee. The army chief told committee members that Hamas does not wish to see the escalation continue to the point of losing control.